The Panthers are on the board in 2023 after surviving a late comeback from the Rabbitohs to win their clash 16-10 in the opening game of Round 2 on Thursday night. It took a desperate diving effort from Dylan Edwards to stop Alex Johnston from scoring in the final minute to secure the result, after the Panthers had 15 minutes earlier held a 16-0 lead and appeared to be cruising. Earlier tries from Johnston and Isaiah Tass, the second of which was converted by Latrell Mitchell, set up the tense finish. The Panthers had started with a hiss and a roar, after being upset by the Broncos in an opening-round defeat, and with a mid-week jibe from Latrell Mitchell no doubt fresh in their minds. Outside of the late comeback from their opponents, the major scare for Penrith came when skipper Nathan Cleary left the field with a limp just before the break, although he was able to return and play the second half without issue. The Panthers terrorised South Sydney's back three with high kicks all night, while they wore the Rabbitohs down with an 80 percent completion rate and high tempo play, led by impressive bench dummy-half Soni Luke. Penrith got over the line twice in the first five minutes, with the first effort ruled out by the Bunker and the second ending in Stephen Crichton scoring in the corner. After some brave defence from the Rabbitohs, and blown opportunities of their own causing, the Panthers finally got a result again a minute before the break, with Izack Tago scoring and Crichton converting for a 10-0 lead. A penalty goal and Brian To'o try saw the hosts stretch the gap to 16 by the 52nd minute, before Johnston's try 14 from time created some interest. Tass then scored to set up a thriller, before Edwards saved the day on the last set with a desperate lunge to clear the ball before Johnston got there in the in-goal area. Source: NRL.Com

Storm utility Nick Meaney is hoping to emulate the path of former fullback-turned-Dally M medalist Nicho Hynes and use his opportunity in a coveted jersey to cement his place in the side. Running for 208 metres, breaking two tackles and scoring his side’s season opener, the 25-year-old went above and beyond as No. 1 understudy in his side's thrilling 16-12 win against the Eels in Round 1. With Ryan Papenhuyzen set to miss at least the next six weeks, Meaney hopes his time in the No. 1 jersey puts coach Craig Bellamy in a tough position in regard to how the versatile back fits into the team when the star fullback returns. “Last year was a bit of a roller coaster ride for me with positions but that comes with the job. I knew that coming down here and that’s what Nicho Hynes did for the Storm in previous years, so I was accepting of that and ready to do the job for the team," Meaney told the media at pre-season training. “Whenever he’s (Papanhhuyzen) back we’ll see what direction Craig wants to go with but I’ve just got to focus on myself, get better each week and try and force that to be a tough decision with whether he wants to put Paps back in straight away or leave me in there for a while. “Craig’s been very supportive of me with my full-time role at fullback. He’s been encouraging me to put my best foot forward, build as a player and take more ownership of my own game and the people around me. “It’s incredible to be under a guy like him and I’m cherishing the time I’ve got at the moment." Since Meaney joined the storm last year to replace Hynes as a utility, Bellamy has relied heavily on the former Bulldog's versatility to help combat a string of injuries over the past 12 months. After covering Xavier Coates on the wing, Cameron Munster at five-eighth and most recently Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback, the Ballina Seagulls product said the No. 1 position is where his focus lied during pre-season. “I played a bit of wing and five-eighth last year…but I’ve spent more of my time at fullback so I probably feel most comfortable there," he said. “I’ve been working closely with Billy Slater and that’s a huge win for a fullback working with someone like him so I feel really confident with where I’m at. “He was all over the park as a fullback so we’ve been working on being active and used the pre-season to build that fitness. “I’ve got to take that now to help the team…popping up everywhere on the field and on the defensive side as well, trying to save tries and jump on loose balls.” Meanwhile, with Cameron Munster joining Papenhuyzen in the casualty ward after sustaining a compound fracture in Round 1, and winger Xavier Coates “a chance” (shoulder), skipper Christian Welch is trusting the squad’s depth to back up their Round 1 performance. “Coatesy is still a chance, but Munster will definitely be out for a bit,” Welch told the media. “If you look at it in a positive way, Munster is going to play Origin this year so it’s a good audition for that guy who's got to step up in the middle of the year, as he will get a game under his belt this weekend. “We’ve had a few injuries last week, but you’ve just got to get on with it and trust the depth of the squad and the guys that have put the work in over the off-season, we’re really confident in them stepping up.” Source:NRL.Com  

Dozens of people have fallen sick in coastal villages in the Philippines after a major oil spill from a sunken tanker. The MT Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel oil when it sank off the coast of the Oriental Mindoro province last week. That oil has since reached the shores of several nearby fishing villages, coating beaches in black sludge. Residents have reported experiencing cramps, vomiting and dizziness. Clean-up workers deployed to the affected village of Pola have also reported feeling ill, local media reported. Breathing fuel oil vapours can cause symptoms such as nausea and headaches, while skin contact may cause itchiness and blisters. Philippines authorities have declared a state of calamity for the affected areas in the province and imposed a fishing ban until the spill is cleaned up. But the ban has a huge impact on the livelihoods of many locals in the area. More than 18,000 fishermen across 60 villages have been barred from the water, local authorities said. Philippines' tourism ministry has also raised concerns about the spill tainting waters at popular diving destinations including the Verde Island passage and Apo Reef in Mindoro and World War Two shipwrecks in Palawan. Some 36,000 hectares (88,958 acres) of coral reef, mangroves and sea-grass are also at risk from the spill, marine biologists say. Oil can kill corals or impede their growth. It can also poison or suffocate wildlife, which further disrupts food chains and ecosystems. The Philippines Coast Guard has been trying to contain the spill for over a week - since the ship sank on 28 February. They have also deployed oil spill booms and sprayed chemicals in efforts to control the spread. Authorities said on Monday they believed they had located the ship, which had moved from the spot it sank at last week. It is not yet clear what caused the Philippine-flagged vessel to sink in rough seas. All 20 of its crew were rescued by a passing cargo ship before the vessel went down. Experts say authorities are verifying how much oil is left inside the tanker, and how to pump the remainder out and prevent further leaks. The tanker's owner, RDC Reield Marine Services Inc., has contracted two local agencies for the clean up.   Source: BBC

Maurice Hastings, a man wrongfully convicted of a 1983 robbery-homicide and sexual assault, has been declared innocent by a California judge. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan formally declared Hastings factually innocent and cleared the arrest and prosecution from his criminal record during a Wednesday hearing, according to a news release from California State University Los Angeles. “It means a lot. I’m grateful for the judge’s ruling, and the apologies – everything has been wonderful today,” Hastings said during a news conference after the ruling. “I’m ready to move forward with my life. I’m a happy man right now.” Hastings, 69, was freed from prison in October after DNA from the 1983 attack identified another suspect. He had been serving a life sentence for the crime, despite the fact that witnesses supported his alibi during the time of the murder and no physical evidence linked him to the scene, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Innocence Project. An oral swab from a sexual assault kit collected shortly after the attack was finally tested in June 2022, according to California State University, Los Angeles, which hosts the Los Angeles Innocence Project. The DNA conclusively ruled out Hastings and pointed instead to Kenneth Packnett, who died in 2020 while serving a prison sentence for kidnapping and rape. During the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Martha Carrillo issued Hastings a “long overdue apology” on behalf of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. “I am sorry, very sorry, for the injustice, the great injustice, that my office and the criminal justice system perpetrated upon you. There’s a lot to be learned from that,” she said. “We are humbled by that lesson and we’ll take it to heart. I know that it’s not enough to say ‘I’m sorry,’ for 38 years in prison, and I realize that, and I’m humbled.” Carrillo also apologized for not heeding Hastings’ previous requests for DNA testing on the evidence. Hastings wrote to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in 2000, asking them to test the DNA, which he said would “conclusively show that I was not the person involved with the deceased at the time of the crime.” After the news conference, Hastings said that “despair” had set in as he faced the possibility of spending life in prison for a crime he did not commit. “It’s a lot of hopeless moments to go through,” he said. “A lot of trials. But you know, it’s all worth it right now.” “Now I feel vindicated,” he added. With his record cleared, Hastings wants to focus on “enjoying life,” he said. He’s currently participating in an entrepreneurship boot camp and performing outreach with homeless communities. “As time goes on, I’ll look to do some other things that give back to people,” he said. Source: CNN

Isaiya Katoa was one of two young Dolphins blooded by Wayne Bennett to help launch the club’s inaugural season and he received a rugby league education in his winning NRL debut. As well as being crunched in a tackle by Roosters superstar Joseph Suaali'i where he struggled to get back to his feet and making a critical error which directly led to a try after he tried to trap a kick-off with his foot instead of catching the ball on the full; Katoa bounced back each time and played a key hand in the victory, setting up points with his passing and his running game. “It was incredible, what an amazing atmosphere it was,” Katoa said of his debut to assembled media in the sheds following the match. “Full credit to the boys who turned up today, we were confident that we could come in here and do a job and we're very fortunate to come away with that. “(The Suaali'i  hit) made me realise, that's the first grade physicality, that kind of epitomises what you have to do. “You have get back up after those and keep going, but, that hurt man! But it was still good to get up there and stay on the field after that shot.” Describing himself as an instinctive player, who likes to “play eyes up footy, react on the go”, Katoa said he had the confidence to do just that on the field thanks not only to his halves partner Sean O’Sullivan being the more “dominant player” in their duo, but also due to the work he has been doing in the pre-season on his mental preparations, including with performance psychologist Dr Phil Jauncey. “I've done a lot of work on the mental side (of my game), when I'm trying to move on after I've made an error or a mistake and Wayne and Woolfy [assistant coach Kristian Woolf], they've been massive on helping me focus on my next job," Katoa said. “Even after the mistake, it's not about the mistake that counts, it's about my response after the mistake. That's something that I'm still learning and that's part of the journey. “(Phil’s) been massive, he's another one that who has helped me with the mental side of footy, understanding myself and understanding how I deal with my footy. “Phil's helping me out, especially with the things like mistakes and how to move on, how to get back to our Plan As is what Phil calls it. “He's had so much experience, he's awesome. When he's speaking in our in our meetings and everyone's listening and he's saying a lot of a lot of very, very true points.” Since his signing in February last year from the Panthers - where he also bypassed the development contract stage and was fast-tracked into the club’s top 30, despite barely turning 18 - Katoa has attracted headlines, with calls for him to make his debut growing louder following his Rugby League World Cup performance with Tonga. After being named in the Dolphins side last week, alongside fellow debutant Kurt Donoghue, Katoa is set to keep his five-eighth jersey for the long term, with the more experienced Anthony Milford continuing to work hard to address some areas of him game that need improvement. “I can't wait to get to next week, (I am) just feeding off that energy from that game,” Katoa said when asked if he was keen to play more NRL. “Hopefully we're in good stead going into next week. “I think the boys will enjoy tonight and then go back to the drawing board and we've got another job next week.” The Dolphins will head back to Kayo Stadium on Saturday to host the Canberra Raiders in Round 2. Source: NRL.Com

Nations have reached a historic agreement to protect the world's oceans following 10 years of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, to safeguard and recuperate marine nature. The agreement was reached on Saturday evening, after 38 hours of talks, at UN headquarters in New York. The negotiations had been held up for years over disagreements on funding and fishing rights. The last international agreement on ocean protection was signed 40 years ago in 1982 - the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. That agreement established an area called the high seas - international waters where all countries have a right to fish, ship and do research - but only 1.2% of these waters are protected. Marine life living outside of these protected areas has been at risk from climate change, overfishing and shipping traffic. These new protected areas, established in the treaty, will put limits on how much fishing can take place, the routes of shipping lanes and exploration activities like deep sea mining - when minerals are taken from a sea bed 200m or more below the surface. Environmental groups have been concerned that mining processes could disturb animal breeding grounds, create noise pollution and be toxic for marine life. The International Seabed Authority that oversees licensing told the BBC that moving forward "any future activity in the deep seabed will be subject to strict environmental regulations and oversight to ensure that they are carried out sustainably and responsibly". Rena Lee, UN Ambassador for Oceans, brought down the gavel after two weeks of negotiations that at times threatened to unravel. Minna Epps, director of the IUCN Ocean team, said the main issue was over the sharing of marine genetic resources. Marine genetic resources are biological material from plants and animals in the ocean that can have benefits for society, such as pharmaceuticals, industrial processes and food. Richer nations currently have the resources and funding to explore the deep ocean but poorer nations wanted to ensure any benefits they find are shared equally. Dr Robert Blasiak, ocean researcher at Stockholm University, said the challenge was that no one knows how much ocean resources are worth and therefore how they could be split. He said: "If you imagine a big, high-definition, widescreen TV, and if only like three or four of the pixels on that giant screen are working, that's our knowledge of the deep ocean. So we've recorded about 230,000 species in the ocean, but it's estimated that there are over two million." Laura Meller, an oceans campaigner for Greenpeace Nordic, commended countries for "putting aside differences and delivering a treaty that will let us protect the oceans, build our resilience to climate change and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of billions of people". "This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics," she added. Countries will need to meet again to formally adopt the agreement and then have plenty of work to do before the treaty can be implemented. Liz Karan, director of Pews Trust ocean governance team, told the BBC: "It will take some time to take effect. Countries have to ratify it [legally adopt it] for it to enter force. Then there are a lot of institutional bodies like the Science and Technical Committee that have to get set up." Source: BBC

Wayne Bennett's Dolphins have produced a spectacular NRL debut, defeating competition heavyweights Sydney Roosters 28-18 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The NRL's newest franchise simply outclassed an error-riddled Roosters in front of over 32,000 as Bennett's side capped off celebrations honouring the late Arthur Beetson. Former Bulldogs hooker Jeremy Marshall-King starred to link well with halves Sean O'Sullivan and Isaiya Katoa seamlessly while veteran forwards Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Mark Nicholls showed age is no barrier in 2023. With scores locked at half-time, the Dolphins produced an incredible second half of football, running in three tries in 10 minutes to run away with victory. The Roosters kicked off proceedings in the 10th minute after Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako knocked on a Luke Keary bomb in the in goal and centre Joseph Suaali'i managed to get a hand on the ball. The newcomers struck back when Marshall-King sliced through the Roosters defence before finding Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in support who made history to score the Dolphins' first-ever NRL try. Dolphins five-eighth Katoa had a moment to forget after the try when he knocked the ball on off the kick-off, enabling the Roosters to capitalise when James Tedesco put Drew Hutchison through from close range. Come the 35th minute and a seesaw battle began to play out when Marshall-King grabbed his second try assist, sweeping left to find former South Sydney prop Nicholls who crashed over the line. After Wayne Bennett's message was 'keep it simple' at half time, the Dolphins returned to score back-to-back tries through forward Connelly Lemuelu and Isaako to steal a 24-12 lead early in the second half. The Roosters looked to hit back when a Keary cross-field kick created an opportunity for Daniel Tupou in the corner but the veteran winger fumbled the ball over the line. Four minutes later and the Dolphins blew the game wide open when Katoa saw the Roosters defence scrambling and found Isaako out wide who strolled over the line and the home side had a 16-point lead. Things went from bad to worse for the Roosters when second rower Egan Butcher was sin-binned for dangerous contact moments before forwards Victor Radley and Matt Lodge were ruled out with head injuries. With 14 minutes to play, Keary kicked again for Tupou and this time the flyer got a favorable bounce to bring the scores 28-18 but that's as close as the visitors came to reducing the deficit.     Source: NRL.com

Ni-Vanuatu residents have emerged battered but still standing after Cyclone Kevin swiped the country with a strong backhand. "It was quite exhausting. Dealing with two cyclones in three days is pretty draining, you know," Vanuatu journalist Dan McGarry told RNZ. He said the gale-force winds have been rough. He woke early on Saturday morning to try and get a sense of the extent of the damage. He went outside in the dark to charge his phone, and when the sun came up it was a real eyesore. "Our own laneway is blocked off. We've got tree limbs all the way up and down," he said. After clearing the way, he was able to get out and about and have a look around. Port Vila had been badly knocked about. McGarry came across a mango tree that landed directly on top of a minibus. "And then the wind lifted the entire tree and dumped it a metre-and-a-half away," he said. Fuel was in short supply and a boil water order was in effect, McGarry said. Many people were at the few hardware stores that were open, trying to buy tools to repair their properties, he said. On Saturday evening, the Fiji Meteorological Office said the severe tropical storm remained a category five, and was centred in the ocean near Conway Reef. Tafea province in Vanuatu, which was under a red alert as Kevin tracked south-east, had been given the all clear. An Australian Air Force reconnaissance flight over Tafea province was reported to have shown some intact settlements and still some greenery. No casualties had been immediately reported but hundreds of people fled to evacuation centres in the capital Port Vila, where Kevin blasted through as a category four storm. Foreign aid needed Vanuatu needs support from its international partners. "There is going to be a significant need - this is not something Vanuatu can do alone, so the assistance of these partners is going to be critical to a speedy and effective response," McGarry said. He believed cooperation from donor partners was needed. France has already received a request to send a patrol plane, he said. "I expect that New Zealand would be putting a P3 in the air before very long. Australia has already committed to sending a rapid assessment team." Stephen Meke, tropical cyclone forecaster with the Fiji Meteorological Service, said cyclone response teams and aid workers wanting to help should plan to travel to Vanuatu from Sunday onwards, as the weather system is forecast to lose momentum then. "Kevin intensified into a category four system," Meke said. "It was very close to just passing over Tanna. So it's expected to continue diving southeastwards as a category four, then the weakening from from tomorrow onwards." A UNICEF spokesperson said its team is preparing to ship essential emergency supplies from Fiji, in addition to emergency supplies already prepositioned in Vanuatu. "These include tents, tarpaulins, education, and health supplies to support immediate response needs in the aftermath of the two devastating cyclones." New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was working with Vanuatu's government and partners to see what help it could offer. An MFAT spokesperson said New Zealand had first-hand experience of the challenges Vanuatu faced in the coming days and weeks. It had been challenging making contact with people because of damaged communications systems, they said. Sixty-three New Zealanders are registered on the SafeTravel website as being in Vanuatu. Parts of Vanuatu have plunged into a six-month-long state of emergency. Source: Radio New Zealand

A second half hat-trick by front-rower Junior Rop underpinned the PNG Hunters’ strong 26-12 win over the Kaiviti Silktails to claim the inaugural Melanesian Bowl at Fiji’s Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka on Saturday. The Silktails led 12-4 at halftime but Rop’s take-no-prisoners running style helped the PNG team pile on 22 unanswered points in the second term. His tries in the 56th, 59th and 67th minutes punched holes in the Silktails defence that they weren’t able to mend. The match was heavy-going for both sides with a water-logged pitch from several days of rain. The second half started in a downpour, which lasted 15 minutes. When Hunters winger Siki Konden scored his side’s first points in the 15th minute he created quite a spray of water near the corner post to underline the tough conditions. The home side were on top early, scoring two tries in the opening half, where possession was at a premium. The slippery ball caused a several handling errors. The Silktails’ second try to winger Tomasi Seru came off a Hunters mistake when Robert Nauci made a 50-metre break upfield from a loose PNG carry. The ensuing play had the Silktails spin the ball across the backline to Seru. The Fijians’ opening try was quick-thinking by hooker Naisa Toko close to Hunters line. He caught the markers offside and ran straight at them to score near the posts. In the second half, three straight penalties gave the Silktails some good field position. But Hunters prop Epel Kapinias made a barging run to lift his side. He was held up over the line but his front row partner in Rop took a leaf out of his book and got the Hunters back in the game in the space of three minutes. The conversion of his second try by Jamie Mavako put the PNG side in the lead for the first time (14-12) after 60 minutes. Rop drove low and hard in the 67th minute to get his hat-trick as the Silktails appeared fatigued. Two Silktails players had to leave the field with cramp but the Hunters kept powering on. Winger Brandon Nima scored their fifth try in the final minutes, off a sublime flick pass from Julius Yakopa. Coach Wes Naiqama will want to stiffen up the Silktails try-line defence before their opening game of the NSWRL’s Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup against Penrith Brothers on 19 March. PNG Hunters 26 (Junio Rop 3, Siki Konden, Brandon Nima tries; Jamie Mavako 2 goals, Trevor Solu goal) def Kaiviti Silktails 12 (Naisa Toko, Tomasi Seru tries; Seru 2 goals).   Source: New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL)

The Brisbane Broncos produced a stunning upset to beat the defending premiers 13-12 at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night. Back-to-back tries by young gun Herbie Farnworth in the opening half put the visitors out to an early lead and a sweetly struck field goal by skipper Adam Reynolds in the 71st minute iced the Broncos' first win at Penrith since 2009. It was the Panthers who were first to open their 2023 campaign with a spectacular team try from beyond halfway. Dylan Edwards, Nathan Cleary and Liam Martin all had a hand in the right-side shift before Stephen Crichton raced away to touch down in the southern corner and hand Cleary his 500th goal. Come the 17th minute and the visitors hit back through Farnworth who stepped around Crichton, who only had eyes for an intercept, and crashed his way over the line to level the scores. Just two minutes later and it was Farnworth again who found himself in a race with Panthers winger Brian To'o and managed to get his hands on the ball first to go back-to-back for Brisbane and put Broncos in front 12-6. Martin and new recruit Luke Garner both crossed the line before half-time but were unable to capitalise through errors and the visitors went into the break with a six-point lead over the reigning premiers. The game developed into an arm wrestle in the second half with both sides unable to add to the score until Reynolds landed his one-pointer to make it 13-6. Penrith missed another opportunity to reduce the deficit with five-eighth Jarome Luai putting the ball down just short of the goal line in the 72nd minute. But the home side refused to lie down and hooker Soni Luke brought his side back within reach when he burrowed over from dummy half. Cleary converted for 13-12. Cleary had a long range shot at a two-point field goal which fell short and Selwyn Cobbo cleaned up but the Broncos fullback lost possession and it appeared the premiers would get another chance but Luai was ruled offside in the chase and a penalty to the visitors got them out of the danger zone. Source: NRL.com

A state of emergency has been declared for areas of Vanuatu impacted most by severe tropical cyclone Judy. It comes as the country deals with a second cyclone, called Kevin, which is bearing down on the country. At 2am local time the now category 3 cyclone was about 165km south-west of Santo and 225km west north-west of Malekula. Red alerts are in place for Sanma, Malampa, and Penama, with damaging gale force winds expected to affect those provinces within the next 12 hours. Yellow alerts are in place for Torba and Shefa. Meanwhile, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck just offshore of Vanuatu. The US Geological Survey reports the quake struck just after 5am local time, and was 10km deep. No tsunami warning has been issued. Action plan announced by PM Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau said declaring a state of emergency will allow the islands most affected by Judy to receive help immediately. "I am pleased to announce that the Council of Ministers has met this afternoon (Thursday) and it has approved a request from the National Disaster Committee to ask the President of the Republic of Vanuatu to declare a State of Emergency for the islands that have been highly affected and impacted by Tropical Cyclone Judy - effective this evening. "We have had two opportunities to meet with our partners and I am pleased to reveal everyone that has approached us are standing by to assist us in regard to conducting assessments and a quick response and whatever we require them to help us with. "Therefore, on behalf of the people of Vanuatu and the Government, I want to say to all these people thank you so much. To all our development partners who even as the Tropical Cyclone [Judy] started to approach us had already reached out and said they were standing by and ready to assist us. "Our officials are working around the clock to try and assess the impact of the cylone [Judy] on all the provinces in the country. At this stage they are still compiling an official report that we will be able to work with and which will enable our development partners to appreciate the level of assistance that we will require from them. "As we speak aerial assessments are being undertaken along with other assessments on the ground to enable us to declare disaster zones in areas that are highly affected." He said development partners have also offered help with assessments or quick responses to the most affected communities, or any help required by the Vanuatu government. [caption id="attachment_37251" align="alignnone" width="888"] Photo: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department[/caption] Aid group 'gearing up' to help The country director for World Vision Vanuatu, Kendra Derousseau, said they stand ready to help in the recovery. "We are gearing up for some key response areas that we know happen after severe cyclones. "That is emergency shelter provisions, such as tarps and also hammers and nails, and also hygiene kits to ensure that basic needs are met, as well as jerry cans so families can have access to clean water. And we will be standing by ready to go with those when the government approves us to respond," she said. Derousseau said said while the capital Port Vila lost power its water service was quickly restored. She said most of the city's infrastructure appears to have stood up to the storm but not some residential housing. "So anyone who was living in either a tradtional house with a thatched roof or a less sturdy house than those with cyclone strapping and nailing would have suffered significant damage to their houses." Derousseau said the big concern now is Cyclone Kevin expected to arrive midday Friday in Port Vila. Meanwhile, 11 babies from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Vila Central Hospital have a new refuge following damage caused by Cyclone Judy. The babies have been moved to the former outpatient section in tho colonial hospital after the ceiling in the maternity Ward was damaged, causing leaks, making the ward unsafe for the babies in incubators. There were also leaks in the children's wards forcing a similar evacuation. Source: rnz.com

The Melbourne Storm dug deep to down Parramatta 16-12 in a golden point thriller at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night, stretching coach Craig Bellamy's remarkable winning streak in round one matches to 20. With Cameron Munster nursing a dislocated finger in the second half and Xavier Coates injuring a shoulder, the Storm stayed in the fight long enough to take the game to golden point before Kangaroos hooker Harry Grant scooted over from dummy half to break the deadlock in the 84th minute. The Storm have not lost an opening round match since Bellamy took the helm in 2003 and this will go down as one of their gutsiest victories given the loss of a number of stars in the off-season and the injury to Munster. The home side opened the scoring in the fifth minute through a Mitch Moses penalty goal after Storm back-rower Eliesa Katoa went on report for late contact on the Eels halfback. Some slick ball movement by the Eels then created opportunities for wingers Maika Sivo and Isaac Lumelume but the Storm defence scrambled superbly. Sivo got across the line in the 17th minute and looked to have the season's first try but the final pass from Dylan Brown was called forward. A penalty against Alec MacDonald for late contact on Moses handed Parramatta an opportunity for another shot at goal but they chose to take a tap and keep the pressure on but came up empty. A big blow for the Storm in the 28th minute when star five-eighth Munster was forced off with a serious finger injury and two minutes later the Eels opened the scoring through Will Penisini. Munster remarkably returned to the field after the break and, perhaps inspired by his courage, they grabbed their opening try in the 47th minute when Josh King delivered a sweet offload for Nick Meaney to score. The fullback converted his own try for 6-6. A big play by Sivo in the 58th minute when he rag-dolled Jahrome Hughes into touch gave the Eels field position for hooker Josh Hodgson to send Junior Paulo over for a try. No sooner had the Eels gone out by six than the Storm hit back through Young Tonumaipea after majestic lead-up by Munster, who passed the ball to himself before putting his centre over in the left corner. Meaney converted for 12-12. With six minutes to play a mistake by Tyran Wishart opened the door for the Eels but Sivo kicked on tackle one and the ball went dead to let the Storm off the hook. Moses then had a shot at field goal charged down with three minutes to play and Bryce Cartwright spilled a pass as the Eels mounted a right side raid. The game went to golden point and Meaney was the first to miss a one-point attempt before Grant's class got the Storm home in a high quality contest. Source: NRL.Com